Adjustable mounting member and a self-aligning shaft-bearing assembly

ABSTRACT

A mounting member and an associated self-aligning shaft bearing are provided at each end of a rotatable shaft. The mounting members have one of their ends pivoted on upright parallel frame supports for swinging movement of their opposite ends in planes parallel to the planes of the frame supports. With the selfaligning bearings located adjacent to such opposite ends the mounting members are relatively movable to swing the axis of the rotatable shaft to a first adjusted position normal to the planes of the frame supports or to a second adjusted position inclined relative to the planes of the frame supports.

United States Patent 3,430,507 3/1969 Hurstetal. 74/242.l5(R) Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin AttorneyRudolph L. Lowell ABSTRACT: A mounting member and an associated self-aligning shaft bearing are provided at each end of a rotatable shaft. The mounting members have one of their ends pivoted on upright parallel frame supports for swinging movement of their opposite ends in planes parallel to the planes of the frame supports. With the self-aligning bearings located adjacent to such opposite ends the mounting members are relatively movable to swing the axis of the rotatable shaft to a first adjusted position normal to the planes of the frame supports or to a second adjusted position inclined relative to the planes of the frame supports.

ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING MEMBER AND A SELF- ALIGNING SHAFT-BEARING ASSEMBLY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly is of a compact and simple construction and provides for the use ofa pair of transversely opposite sections ofa conveyor frame or like structure as supports for a correspond ing pair of the mounting member and bearing assemblies. An adjustable mounting member and bearing assembly is pivoted directly on a corresponding support section for adjustable swinging movement of the axis of the shaft longitudinally of the conveyor frame to an adjusted position. Since the shaft can be swung to an adjusted position extended transversely of the conveyor frame, or to an adjusted position inclined transversely of the conveyor frame, adjustment can be made for both conveyor belt tension and for a centering ofthe conveyor belt on the pulley supported on the shaft. By virtue of the mounting members being locked in adjusted positions by clamping bolts, adjustments for belt tension and belt-centering purposes can be made while the conveyor belt is in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the assembly relation of the conveyor pulley, shaft and conveyor belt of the conveyor apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the adjustable mounting member and bearing assembly shown in various adjusted positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the adjustable mounting member and self-aligning shaft-bearing assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is shown in assembly relation with a conveyor apparatusll that has a frame structure 12 comprised of a pair of flat upright side frame members 13. The frame members 13 extend in a spaced parallel relation longitudinally of the conveyor apparatus 11 and are suitably braced by interconnecting transverse members (not shown).

A drive pulley 14 for a conveyor belt 16 is located at one end of the frame 12 and is carried on a shaft 17, the ends of which are rotatably mounted in bearing units 18, secured to the outside of corresponding ones of the frame side members 13. The shaft 17 also carries a V-belt pulley 21 which is driven by an electric motor 22 mounted on a raised platform23, having a pair of supporting legs 24 attached to corresponding side members 13. A driven conveyor pulley belt pulley 26 (FIGS. 1 and 4) located at the opposite end of the conveyor apparatus 11 includes a shaft 27 each end of which is rotatably carried in an adjustable mounting member and bearing assembly of this invention. Since the mounting member and bearing assemblies 10 are identical identical in construction and similarly supported on corresponding frame side members I3, only one of such assemblies will be described in detail with like numbers being applied to corresponding parts therein.

An assembly I0 includes an elongated mounting or plate member 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed with a triangular shaped end section 29 having a bolt-receiving hole 31 centered in the apex portion thereon. Adjacent its opposite end 32 the mounting member 28 is formed with an arcuate slot 33, the arc of which is struck about the axis of the hole 31 as a center. The self-aligning shaft-bearing 34, which is of a usual commercially available type, is positioned or housed in the mounting member 28 between the arcuate slot 33 and the bolt-receiving hole 31 with the axes of the hole 31 and bearing 34 in alignment longitudinally of the mounting member 28. For a purpose to appear later, a pair of transversely opposite pads 36 are projected outwardly from the mounting member 28 at positions lying in the arcuate path or extension ofthe slot 33.

The frame side members 13 of the conveyor frame 12 have transversely opposite upright support sections, indicated at 37, corresponding to a pair of adjustable mounting member and bearing assemblies 10. Each support section 37 (FIG. 2) carries a pair oflaterally extended bolts 38 aligned transversely of the support section with their axes spaced a distance apart corresponding to the spacing between the axis of a boltreceiving hole 31 and the transverse cerntcrline 39 of an arcuate slot 33 in a mounting member 28. Between the bolts 38 is a slot 4] ofa size and shape to register with a self-aligning bearing unit 34 at all adjusted positions of the mounting member 28 relative to a corresponding support section 37.

For connecting a mounting member and bearing assembly 10 with a corresponding support section 37, the bolt 38 (FIG. 2) adjacent the registering slot 41 is inserted through the bolthole 3] concurrently with the insertion of they remaining bolt 38 through the arcuate slot 33 formed in the mounting member 28. It will be appreciated that concurrently with this positioning of the assemblies 10 on corresponding support sections 37 that the shaft 27 has the ends thereof fitted within the self-aligning bearings 34. A mounting member and bearing assembly 10 is clamped against the outer surface of a corresponding support section 37 (FIG. 3) on the tightening of nuts 42 corresponding to the bolt 38.

For adjustment purposes, the nuts 42 are loosened so as to permit a swinging movement of a mounting member 28 relative to its pivotal support on the bolt 38 that is carried in the bolthole 31. By virtue of this swinging movement in a plane extended longitudinally of the conveyor frame 12 and in a parallel relation with the support section 37 (FIG. 3) the shaft 27 is movable both longitudinally and and transversely of the frame side members 13. The transverse translatory motion of the shaft 27, during swinging movement longitudinally of the conveyor apparatus 11, is the result of the arcuate swinging path defined by the pivot support of the mounting member 28.

In adjusting the tension ofthe conveyor belt 16 the assemblies 10 are pivotally moved so that the axis of the shaft 27 is maintained in a position normal to the planes of the support sections 37. Stated otherwise, the axes of the self-aligning bearings 34 are in substantial coaxial alignment transversely of the frame 12. Since the translatory transverse movement of the shaft 27 during such adjustment is appreciably small, relative to its longitudinal movement, adjustment of the assembly 10 for belt-tensioning purposes can be readily made to accommodate shaft adjustment travel of 1 inch or more longitudinally of the frame 12.

As best appears in FIG. 4, the belt pulley 26 has a crown center section 43 to resist movement of the conveyor belt 16 axially of the pulley 26. Should the belt 16 be out of a centered relation with the pulley 26, the assemblies 10 may be relatively adjusted to provide for the axis of the pulley shaft 27 being in an inclined position relative to the planes of the support sections 37. It is apparent, of course, that the direction of inclination of the shaft 27 would be dependent on the noncentered position of the belt being corrected. It is also apparent that the adjusted inclined position of the shaft 27 would be accommodated by the self-aligning bearings 34 of the assemblies 10.

Due to the clamping action of the nuts 42 for locking the assemblies 10 in adjusted positions, adjustment of the conveyor belt for tensioning or for centering on the belt pulley 26 can be accomplished while the conveyor belt is in operation. In this respect, the nuts 42 are only slightly loosened to permit adjustment of the mounting members 28 by a hammer or other impact force. With a mounting member 28 thus frictionally held against movement out of an adjusted position, one or the other of the pads 36 may be struck with a hammer depending upon the desired direction of adjustment of the shaft 27 longitudinally ofthe conveyor frame 12.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mounting member 28 is illustrated in full lines in what may be termed a center or neutral position wherein the bolt 38 inserted through the arcuate slot 33 is in a center position longitudinally of the slot. The dotted line positions A and B of the mounting member 28 correspond to to maximum adjusted positions, respectively, defined by engagement of the slot bolt 38 with one or the other ends 44 and 46 of the slot 33.

lclaim: I v

1. An adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly for each end of a belt pulley shaft of an apparatus having a pair of oppositely arranged frame supports and wherein the shaft extends transversely between said frame supports, said assembly comprising:

a. a mounting member having a hole adjacent one end thereof,

b. a self-aligning bearing carried on said mounting member having the axis thereof spaced from and in a parallel relation with the axis of said hole,

c. said frame supports having transversely opposite arcuate shaft-receiving slots extended longitudinally thereof,

d. means pivotally connecting a mounting member at the hole therein on a frame support for adjustable pivotal movement in a path parallel to the plane of said frame support at a position wherein the self-aligning bearing is continuously opposite the arcuate slot in said frame support, and

e. coacting means on a frame support and corresponding mounting member for locking the mounting member in an adjusted pivotally moved position.

2. An adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly for each end of a belt pulley shaft of a conveyor apparatus having a frame with upright side members and wherein the shaft extends transversely between said side members, said assembly comprising:

a. a mounting member having a hole adjacent one end thereof and an arcuate slot adjacent the opposite end thereof having a center-generating point coincident with the axis of said hole,

b. a self-aligning bearing positioned in said mounting member between said hole and slot with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of said hole,

c. said frame side members having transversely opposite arcuate shaft-receiving slots extended longitudinally thereof and ofa curvature corresponding to the curvature of the arcuate slot in said mounting member,

d. means pivotally supporting a mounting member at the hole thereon on a side member for swinging movement longitudinally thereof in a path parallel to the plane of said side member at a position wherein the self-aligning bearing is continuously opposite the arcuate slot in said side member, and

. a clamping bolt mounted in a frame side member for extension through the arcuate slot in a mounting member,

. said shaft having each end thereof projected through the slot in a frame side member for rotatable support in an adjacent self-aligning bearing, whereby, when said clamping bolts are loosened the ends of said shaft are relatively adjustable longitudinally and transversely of said frame side members to move the axis of said shaft to either an adjusted position extended normal to the planes of said side members, or to an adjusted position inclined relative to the planes of said side members, said shaft being locked in an adjusted position when said clamping bolts are tightened.

3. The adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

a. the one end of said body member is of a triangular shape with said hole located in the apex portion thereof, and b. the opposite end of said body member lS of a curved shape corresponding to and concentric with the shape of the arcuate slot in the body member.

4. The bearing unit according to claim 2 including:

a. a pair of transversely opposite pad members on said mounting member, each pad member projected from a side of said body member at a position in the circular arc of the arcuate slot in said body member. 

1. An adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly for each end of a belt pulley shaft of an apparatus having a pair of oppositely arranged frame supports and wherein the shaft extends transversely between said frame supports, said assembly comprising: a. a mounting member having a hole adjacent one end thereof, b. a self-aligning bearing carried on said mounting member having the axis thereof spaced from and in a parallel relation with the axis of said hole, c. said frame supports having transversely opposite arcuate shaft-receiving slots extended longitudinally thereof, d. means pivotally connecting a mounting member at the hole therein on a frame support for adjustable pivotal movement in a path parallel to the plane of said frame support at a position wherein the self-aligning bearing is continuously opposite the arcuate slot in said frame support, and e. coacting means on a frame support and corresponding mounting member for locking the mounting member in an adjusted pivotally moved position.
 2. An adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly for each end of a belt pulley shaft of a conveyor apparatus having a frame with upright side members and wherein the shaft extends transversely between said side members, said assembly comprising: a. a mounting member having a hole adjacent one end thereof and an arcuate slot adjacent the opposite end thereof having a center-generating point coincident with the axis of said hole, b. a self-aligning bearing positioned in said mounting member between said hole and slot with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of said hole, c. said frame side members having transversely opposite arcuate shaft-receiving slots extended longitudinally thereof and of a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the arcuate slot in said mounting member, d. means pivotally supporting a mounting member at the hole thereon on a side member for swinging movement longitudinally thereof in a path parallel to the plane of said side member at a position wherein the self-aligning bearing is continuously opposite the arcuate slot in said side member, and e. a clamping bolt mounted in a frame side memBer for extension through the arcuate slot in a mounting member, f. said shaft having each end thereof projected through the slot in a frame side member for rotatable support in an adjacent self-aligning bearing, whereby, when said clamping bolts are loosened the ends of said shaft are relatively adjustable longitudinally and transversely of said frame side members to move the axis of said shaft to either an adjusted position extended normal to the planes of said side members, or to an adjusted position inclined relative to the planes of said side members, said shaft being locked in an adjusted position when said clamping bolts are tightened.
 3. The adjustable mounting member and self-aligning bearing assembly according to claim 2 wherein: a. the one end of said body member is of a triangular shape with said hole located in the apex portion thereof, and b. the opposite end of said body member is of a curved shape corresponding to and concentric with the shape of the arcuate slot in the body member.
 4. The bearing unit according to claim 2 including: a. a pair of transversely opposite pad members on said mounting member, each pad member projected from a side of said body member at a position in the circular arc of the arcuate slot in said body member. 